The US Department of State has started testing a paid option for faster visitor visa interviews. The Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program opened on 21 July 2026. Applicants who qualify can pay 750 US dollars per appointment to be seen sooner, and the pilot runs until 31 December 2026.
Before anyone in Dubai or Abu Dhabi starts budgeting for it, there is one detail that matters more than the price. The pilot is not available in the UAE.
How the expedited appointment pilot works
The programme is aimed at B visa applicants, which covers both tourism and business visitor travel. To use it, an applicant needs a visa interview already scheduled at a participating post, or an unexpired visa application fee receipt at that post. The paid expedite option then appears when the applicant manages the booking.
Once selected, payment has to be completed within ten minutes. The State Department says an expedited appointment is offered within ten business days, subject to availability. The terms are strict:
- The 750 US dollar fee is not refundable and not transferable.
- An expedited appointment date and time cannot be changed once booked.
- Missing the appointment forfeits the fee.
- Each applicant in a group or family pays separately.
- The fee is charged on top of the standard visa application fee, not instead of it.
Where the pilot is running right now
The pilot launched at Mission Mexico, meaning the US Embassy in Mexico City and all US consulates in Mexico. The State Department has said further pilot locations may be announced during the pilot period, but no UAE location has been added so far. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai are not participating.
The option is also closed to applicants renewing through the interview waiver route, since in those cases there is no interview to bring forward.
Why UAE residents should still pay attention
Appointment availability has been tight in the Emirates for a long time. The State Department global visa wait times page has listed visitor visa appointment waits measured in months at both Abu Dhabi and Dubai. If the pilot ever expands to the Gulf, it would become one of the few official ways to reach an earlier interview slot.
Until then, the ordinary process is the only route. That means applying at the post covering your country of residence, completing an accurate DS-160, paying the visa application fee, and booking the earliest interview date the system offers rather than holding out for a more convenient one. Cancellations do appear, so checking the calendar regularly is worth the effort.
Be careful who you pay in the UAE
Any agent currently offering a paid US government fast track for a Dubai or Abu Dhabi interview is describing something that does not exist. The only official route to an earlier slot from the UAE is the standard expedited appointment request submitted through the applicant dashboard after a regular appointment has been scheduled and the fees paid. That request costs nothing to submit and is granted at the discretion of the embassy or consulate, usually for documented medical, educational or urgent business reasons.
Paying more does not change the decision
The State Department was blunt on this point. Payment of the expedited appointment fee provides an earlier interview only and does not guarantee visa issuance. Every applicant still meets the same eligibility standards and the same security vetting. The decision on any B1/B2 application rests with the US consular officer at the interview, and no fee, agent or service changes that.
FastUSTravel packages start at AED 3,500 + VAT per person and include the USD 185 US government MRV fee. What that buys is careful preparation and appointment support, not an outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay 750 dollars for a faster US visa interview in Dubai?
No. The pilot is currently limited to US posts in Mexico. Neither the US Consulate General in Dubai nor the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi is a participating location at this time.
Does the expedited fee make approval more likely?
No. The State Department states that the fee provides an earlier appointment only and does not guarantee visa issuance. The consular officer decides each case on its own merits.
Is there a free way to request an earlier appointment from the UAE?
Yes. After scheduling a regular appointment and paying the standard fees, applicants can submit an expedited appointment request through their online dashboard for qualifying urgent reasons. Approval is at the discretion of the embassy or consulate.
Sources
US Department of State, Nonimmigrant Visa Expedited Appointment Pilot Program. US Department of State, Global Visa Wait Times. US Department of State, Fees for Visa Services. Gulf News, US begins 750 dollar fast track tourist visa interview trials: who can apply and how it works.
